Slovakian Foreign Minister Mikulas Dzurinda has said that he expects Croatia to successfully complete its EU entry talks during the Hungarian or Polish presidency of the EU in 2011, supporting further EU enlargement.
"We don't have the right to say that the European Union is tired of enlargement", Dzurinda said in an interview for the Slovakian TASR news agency, published on Tuesday, adding that the EU still lacked Western Balkan countries and countries of the so-called Eastern Partnership such as Armenia, Belarus or Ukraine.
Dzurinda said he hoped that accession talks would begin soon with Serbia, which is now awaiting the status of candidate country.
As for Turkey, Dzurinda thinks that it is important to be careful. According to him, Turkey should be supported in terms of its reforms, but the big cultural difference has to be taken into consideration as well.
"The final decision will have a political character and every EU country will consider it sensitively. But one thing is certain - we have an eminent interest in good relations with Turkey," said Dzurinda.
